Yumeth Hirunaka an athletic star in the making

Fourteen year old up and coming Athlete Divisional and Zonal Champion, All Island Schools and Junior John Tarbet Merit holder Yumeth Hirunaka Abeysekera has brought honour and fame to his alma mater Defence College, Kurunegala with his deeds in the field of Athletics.

Yumeth who hails from Kurunegala was born on 31st January 2008 and initially admitted to the grade one of John Kotalawala Vidyalaya Kurunegala in 2014 and his first class teacher was Mrs. Indrani. when he was in this school he did not take much interest in sports and in 2005 his Parents Sarath Abeysekera and Asoka Gunatilleke admitted their son to Defense College Kurunegala. Mrs. Gunatilleke who was a fine Athlete during her hey day and the Physical Instructress and the teacher in Charge of Sports at her son’s new school encouraged Yumeth to take up to Athletics.

Yumeth’s first attempt was in 2016 at the school sports meet and in the under eleven age group he came second in High Jump and his team swept the board at the 4×50 metres relay event and the other members were Nipuna, Lakshan and Nirupama. Participating at the Divisional meet he could not come up to expectations and in the, following year taking part at the school meet he came third in Long Jump and his relay team got the second place and at the Divisional meet his mother advised him to take up to High Jump at the Divisional Meet in the under 12 age category and he won the event with a leap of 1.30 metres and set a record and at the Zonal Meet too he came first and got the third place at the Provincial Meet and at the All Island Schools Meet he became ninth and reached the qualifying height and received a Merit Certificate and at the John Tarbet Junior Meet in High Jump he cleared 1.20 meters and he was among the Best Eight and got a Merit Certificate and his Coach is Mrs.Madhu Madavi.

Then in the 2019 school meet he met with an injury and with the out break of Corona his Athletics came to a halt and after recovery he joined Sumedha Jayakody Athletic Academy and preparing for the forthcoming meets under Mr. Jayakody. His Principal P. A. Rathnayake is always very supportive of him.